28/01/2026
28/01/2026 - Scam/Fake Microsoft email.
We have had dozens of calls and emails regarding this, and even had a few customers lose money to it.
The email concerned is attached below. There are other similar varieties of it appearing too.
Before I break it down, the moral of the story here is never, ever, ever, click on a link in an email. Even the email is from a trusted source, treat it with scepticism.
The main aim of this post is to point out that companies such as Microsoft, your bank, your ISP (broadband supplier) and any other service you subscribe to, will never send you a generic deadline email like this. If it's important news about your account, they will send details in the post. Or if they do email, it will be addressed to you, using your name, along with at least some account detail as proof, and will ask you to log on via a browser and NOT via a link.
If it isn't addressed to you in person, it's an advert or a scam.
DON'T CLICK THE LINK!
As for the one below that has caused all the upset recently.
It is worded in such a way that it induces a sense of urgency regarding your account. They claim they want you to click the link to avoid the claimed cut off. In reality they want to harvest the details that will be required of you once you have clicked on the link. Once they have that, they take over your email account and will wreak havoc. At worst they will get enough data to clone your identity. One customer only yesterday had a loan taken out in their name as a result, along with several expensive purchases. In this case the customer had followed the link to "update their direct debit details". The fallout from this is far reaching. Cards needing to be cancelled, bank accounts suspended, having to inform friends and family, having personal data deleted online..... Not too mention the hours we spend helping them out.
All because they clicked the link.
DON'T CLICK THE LINK!
Look at the email in the image below. This is exactly the email that led to the financial loss mentioned. Look at the email address it's from. Would Microsoft really use an AOL email address? Look at the word Micr0s0ft. It's got zeros instead of the letter "o". Look at the wording. It's poor grammar and vague. There is no genuine logo, no GDPR related gumph at the bottom. It just looks unprofessional.
If you use us for your renewals, and you are paying us for your IT support, why click on a random email for help? Why not just email or ring us for advice instead. If in doubt, forward the email to us. Just please, DON'T CLICK THE LINK!
